YEREVAN. – The settlement of Karabakh conflict has to take into account the real balance of interests, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in Yerevam.

Asked about Karabakh’s participation in talks, he noted that the parties are to determine the format of talks. He recalled that Karabakh was a participant of talks at an early stage when hostilities were over, however, one of the previous Armenian presidents decided that Yerevan would represent the interests of Karabakh.

“We, as the co-chairs, can only work to ensure that the process goes along the lines of general agreement. No agreements can be reached without the consent of the people, the population of Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia will simply not sign them, and we proceed from that,” Lavrov emphasized.

He added that during today’s meeting Armenian Prime Minister reiterated his public statement, namely that the final agreement has to take into consideration with the interests of the people of Armenia, Karabakh and Azerbaijan.  

The principles of territorial integrity, the right of peoples to self-determination and peaceful settlement are envisaged in all the options that are being discussed between the parties. The final settlement must take into account all principles, the rest is the matter of negotiations.

“Compromises are the art of diplomacy. We, as the co-chairs, try to ensure that compromises reflect the real balance of interests,” Lavrov added.